Middle Sister

On this day nineteen years ago you filled our hearts with love and made us smile.

You have kept on making us smile all through the years and our hearts are continually filled with love. 

Happy Birthday "Middle Sister!" 

Top Ten Reasons We Will Miss M

TOP TEN REASONS TO MISS M NOW THAT SHE IS AWAY AT COLLEGE

10.Her bedroom will be clean
9.  Her bathroom will be clean
8. No more guinea pig sized hair ball in her shower to fight off
7. The dishwasher chore is on a two person rotation
6. We can drive her car when ever we want
5. We won't trip over her shoe-S all over the house
4. My hairspray is less likely to disappear from my bathroom
3. One less kid to be my grocery bitch
2. No more witty come backs to King Ralph's nonsensical talks
1. I won't be able to squeeze her cheeks and give her 10 kisses at a time each night

We are super excited for you M, to have this opportunity to grow and learn. Remember, make yourself proud before you make us proud. Go Bears! XOXO

(Best college move in day sighting: man brought kid to college packed in a convertible Corvette. Unpacked so fast there was no time to snap that priceless picture to share.)

Stilts

I tried M's graduation shoes on, the shoes she picked out herself. As King Ralph and I stood in her room staring at the shoes before, I, tried them on, all we could say was "these are stilts!"  You can't even begin to imagine the difficulty it took for me to try to stand in the shoes, let alone think about taking a step. King Ralph helped me keep my balance as I teetered. 

When I look back at M's last 18 years, life has really been about walking on stilts, teetering through life.  If we aren't all walking on stilts then I'd venture to say we aren't really living, navigating and trying to keep balance as we all grow--parent and child. When I take the time to allow for reflection of every little stumble, trip, and wobble in M's growing year; its has been totally worth it.

Although I couldn't, wouldn't even attempt to try to balance in the shoes M wore last night...the shoes she wears most of the time...somehow she just knows how to work'em. Keeping balance. Just as she does in life.

So I say to my M, who was once the cutest little muncher and is now a gorgeous tall young lady... keep wearing those stilts through life and work'em!

Just remember: if you trip or fall while at Missouri State University, just like when you were little, we're here to help you stand up and catch your balance again.

Thank a Teacher

I SENT:
Ladies-
Often high school teachers are looked past by parents; appreciation goes unrecognized.

With that said I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for instilling, molding in Maddi passion and drive, creating for her-- a future goal. Favorite teachers have a special place forever in the heart of a student. Tomorrow as Maddi walks out the doors of LHS moving on with her future, please know you two are that mark on Maddi’s heart.

Thank you for adding to her successses at Lindbergh!


REPLIES:
Thank you for the sweet words. You have raised a lovely young woman who exemplifies what high school should be about. She enjoyed her experience, she tried hard, she was seriously involved...what more could you want. I have loved getting to know and work with Maddi over the last three years. She is a special young lady and will miss her bubbly personality.


Congratulations!

AND
 
Maddi was one of the most wonderful students I have had. She is so bright and has such a caring heart. I can't believe the amount of activities DECA accomplished this year under her leadership! I know she will be successful in her endeavors. I will miss her.

Dear Princess A Sorry To Say But There Is New Royality Among Us (and her titled isn't self proclaimed)

Prom.

Finding THE dress on the sale rack of ShaleyBug $52
Dress alterations $30
The perfect shoes $60
Earrings, Necklace, bracelet and clutch $40
Vintage 1950's styled hair $15
Boutonniere with a peacock feather $12
Portion of the limo $56
My girlie looking like a million bucks PRICELESS!
Being crowned a Senior Prom Princess DOUBLE PRICELESS!!

It's About Celebrating The Life That Was

Trophy Thursday

That HUGE disastrous mess in the living room paid off!

 Not to mention the hard work in all the other categories.

Is that not the look of a happy DECA member?

First Place: Hospitality and Tourism

First Place: Chapter Award

(the pretty scrapbook that was the talk of District and sought after for a glimpse)  

Third Place: Apparal and Accessories 

We're proud!

Celebration Dinner

Because Nellie guessed who M's famous find was, Mario Lopez, I am breaking out the beans.

I've been saving these beans for just the perfect reason...it's time to break them out--my Nellie beans.

I won these beans from Nellie for guessing the correct location she was visiting.  So it only seems fitting that I should break them out, cook them up and share the feast; since she guessed correctly on my challenge.  I might even throw in a little ham.

My pal Terri says not to worry about what the magical fruit can do, when the more you eat the more you toot... she recommends "Gas-X for the Ass-X" 

Sunday dinner is at 4pm.

Tomorrow Part 3 of to be continued

Another Adult In The House, So Light the Candles

Why can't Keeper sleep?
A. She is excited for the big race
B. King Ralph turned on his side of bed heater and is cooking Keeper to death
C.  The anniversary of giving birth to M has her mind stirring with memories
D. All of the above

I'm gonna go with answer "D". 

Answer "C" is probably really up there! Totally up there!!  This isn't any birthday, it's M's 18th birthday.  The year where she is granted privileges by law that will allow any of us to holler out hey M pick up a few lottery tickets on the way home tonight.  Or, hey M pick up so and so a pack of smokes on the way over tonight.  Even better, hey M pick up the latest issue of Playboy--so and so likes it, really, for the articles.  Oh course we all know the chance of M being allowed to picking anything up other than a lottery ticket for someone is slim to NONE!    

More importantly turning 18 means M has the right to vote...even join the military (to bad she keeps turning down all those military recruiter calls).   

Some how though, even being 18 and having had the privilege to watch her grow into a beautiful confident young lady...I still see the lovable little brown haired brown eyed girl who when asked "where are your glasses?" would shrug her tiny shoulders and reply "I nun no"  (the joys of having spectacles at 18 months). 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY MADISON PHYLLIS

XOXO

     

Glinda Wears Chucks

I'll be heading to the store soon to pick up a few cases of Vess orange and lemon-lime soda--my Halloween trick-r-treat give away.  I'll also be brushing up on current dumb jokes so I am not so stumped when kids start trading the tricks for my treat.  In St. Louis you just don't ring the doorbell, scream trick-r-treat, hold out the candy bag and collect the loot. Nope in St. Louis folks like to make the kids work for the treat...we want tricks!  Jokes count as a trick. Actually it may be the only trick because I haven't seen any kids preforming magic or circus feats on my front porch.  There isn't much risk of liability is a dumb joke.

While the kids in the neighborhood are at home trying to devise plans to stump ole' Keeper, I spent yesterday having a bit of Halloween fun myself.  Every year the office gets a themed makeover.  Like elves in the night we all contribute what time we have available in our after work schedules to help make the transformation happen.  Some more than others, some not none at all.  Two of our gals worked transforming to the late hours.  It is always fun the next day to see the children's faces as they gaze in amazement at our creativity as they parade through.

We've had some great themes in the past.  My favorite was 2007.  It's just fun being an adult with permission to have kid fun. This marks the end of a long rein of Halloween office fun.  The elementary school will be making a transformation of its own, to a middle school next school year--the curtain comes down.  

And. So. I present, for the final time, the office: Halloween style.

Welcome to Oz.

   
By the time the day was over Glinda the Good Witch of the North was glad she wore her yellow polka dot Chucks... 

before making a quick thirty minute transformation into regular mom honoring the Seniors; my girlie at Senior Night.  Regular Mom wears black boots and a nanook.

Now it's time to carve the pumpkin, dig out the spooky mood music and place the tomb stones in the yard...

Happy Halloween!

SWEET SIXTEEN

Sixteen years ago I stood in line at Target purchasing necessaries for a preschool Halloween party...when ouch I went into labor...a wee bit early.

After the Target checker had her moment of freak that a woman in labor with two small children in tow was in her check-out line; I made it home.  Back in the day of pre-cell phones I paged King Ralph, who then called his mom, who then made it home just in time for me to walk in the doors of the hospital to deliver a sweet five pound plus girlie who was then whisked away by ambulance to the NICU at Children's Hospital.

There you have it in a nut shell how D's life began.  She left me in a panic of difficulty from her start through her toddler years.  Calming about the time Kindergarten came calling.

Once a little tomboy who loved Hot Wheels to Barbies and mud pies to lip gloss.  Who wore the plastic wheels of her Big Wheel burning rubber on the sidewalk...hating anything that had a feminine flare. D has blossomed into a beautiful young lady with polished toe nails and bouncy natural curls molded with product.  All the things that until recently she turned her nose to.

She's smart and talented.  At times aggravating and lazy.  Through all the adjectives I grow more in love with my unplanned baby girl--our gift from above.

She is she.  Never being persuaded to be anything but herself.

And.

So.

We celebrate.

Keep skipping happily through life seeing what is ahead waiting for you (maybe a driver's permit).

Happy Sweet 16 Demi Anne!       

Repeat Pete Has Something to Say to the Color Guard

An early start to the Saturday meant practice before competition. 

Then the ritual guard transformation--hair, make-up, white spandex, rhinestone jewels....

Then to the field--for a prelims finish of 2nd place with caption awards for best music and BEST AUXILIARY.  Again.  And.  Lotsa trophies. Smiles.

Repeat Pete says: Color Guard, Color Guard you did it again! You brought the goods to the field each competition--, your "Seasons" is summer cause you are hot and on fire.  Sweet feeling of success for a section that has worked so hard for so long to gain the respect of not only the instrument sections of the band but the student body as well.  I know their grace and elegance is proving it.

Yep Repeat Pete has a beautiful echo when those eighteen beautiful girls in white spandex take to the field to show their grace and skill.

A Fall day that began with beautiful warm sunshine, that turned to a cold, rainy, gusting wind night did not hinder these 215 kids.  No way.  They finished the finals with a second place finish, a score of 86.65 and a caption of best music.  More smiles.

When the night is all said and done...it's time to "unguard" before heading to bed for a long night's well deserved rest.

Even though M sent me a text from the bus that said "tired of hearing-- 2nd place Lindbergh"...the kids have much to be proud of!

:-)

Yesterday was a happy day.  Not because I spent the afternoon floating in the pool bronzing my skin.  Not because there was no band practice to drive to at the crack of the summer's day's dawn.  Not because Mother Nature gave a break from the oppressive heat (well truth be that sure did add to the happy day).  Not because I have just made my auto insurance company a little bit wealthier.  Yesterday was a happy day because M got her driver's license! 

Now I am not sure it was an all out happy day for me or King Ralph since sending our kid out on the road solo means noshing at our fingers nails till our baby girl returns home safely.  Regardless we have been through this teen driver experience once before...it never minimizes the parental stress.  We do hope that having our girls wait to drive till they are high school seniors, allowing the last portion of the developing brain to evolve--reasoning--helps them to be more responsible drivers.  We really are proponents of making the driving age 18.       

Since King Ralph's new life goal is to have more cars in front of our house than the frat boys next door...we have a little Honda we added to our stock.

So here's to you M, may you never roll a stop sign and may you always drive the speed limit. You too M can be the receiver of Dad's standard last words as you walk out the door--"be safe."

Yes, be safe.    



  

Add Candle Please

I am celebrating the merriment of growing a year older.  Or am I celebrating the merriment being perimenapausal?

I had this dream last week that I took a pregnancy test and it came out showing an odd sign on the stick so I peed on the stick again for it to show positive.  I believe I woke in a sweat, a cold sweat this time.  I mentioned to Princess A and D last night my lack of menstruating when it was suggested that my dream might be coming true.  I don't know what made me speak what was rolling in my mind out loud but I replied "not a chance I was in a camper" forget the dawg was snipped a decade plus ago.  The look on D's face was, well, priceless.  Forget that my favorite thing in life was to trap the girls in the car and talk sex ed with them (a trapped captive audience when driving 65mph down the highway can't escape the lessons)-- they would prefer to believe a stork dropped them off at the door than that their parents....

I considered making this Paula Dean treat for myself for my birthday except one, it is to damn hot outside to fire up the oven and two, with my metabolism all whacked the last thing I need to add is hard to burn fat to my frame.  I guess I'll stick a candle in my celery stalk snack.

I am going to take the hiatus of the curse of womanhood as a birthday gift of sorts.  What do I call that two hour hot flash I had Saturday night causing me to lose sleep?        

If I don't melt away on this birthday of mine I will consider it a great accomplishment in my year older--feels like 111* today. Uhg!

Here's to great adventures to come in my-- another year older.

In the Blink of an Eye

This once cute little girl called home tonight and says "I'm calling to hear the story of my birth." A ritual routinely practiced each year the night before the girl's birthday at bedtime.

This year, on her birthday came the telephone request...with a sorority sister listening in.

Now the once cute little thing I helped create is a twenty-year old beauty.

In the blink of an eye.

Happy Birthday Princess A. You are loved!

The Winner Is...

It was a big day for M. DECA Districts.

She won a blue ribbon for "Best Dressed for Success" in the advertising campaign category; of which she and her two friends competed. Sadly they did not place.

M also was chosen to be one of two leadership delegates for the high school. Competing in the leadership delegate category meant she had to write a paper and be interviewed.

Guess what?

M won FIRST PLACE out of forty other delegates from twenty different schools.

She is so cute; as she was doing her homework on her bed she looked up and asks for me to bring her trophy to place on her night stand. "You want it close by to look at it" I say. She smiles proudly in that little girl way and replies "yes."

M is stretched out in her bed tiring and when she slumbers tonight a trophy will glistens in the clock's digital light gleam, then greeting her in the morning.

It will say to her what I have always known--You're great!

Seventeen

Today is M's birthday. Her golden birthday. Seventeen on the Seventeenth.

Unbelievable that my baby girl burst into this world seventeen years ago teaching me that I had the strength of a pioneer woman; as I was drug free for her delivery. It feels like yesterday that I held my chubby baby with her red hot chili pepper colored skin and a mop of dark hair in my arms. That Princess A proclaimed to her aunt that she had a baby brother, more than once. That we brought our new baby girl home and placed her under the Christmas tree,knowing no other Christmas would offer a gift so awesome.

And the rest is history...still in the making. Each day providing growing love and pride.

Happy Birthday M! XOXO

Fun@Work

This morning I woke to fashion myself in my Halloween costume as today was party day at school, work. I also woke to find I had been silenced. My voice gone. "It's a trick" I whispered. King Ralph said "it's a treat". I then debated whether to use the only sign language I knew suitable for such a comment (my middle finger) or to stick out my tongue at him. I went with the head shake and a grimace.

When my tights don't seem to agree with me I come up with new ways to use last winters tights--a wig cap. There I was in the bathroom stretching the crotch of a pair of black tights over my head and affixing my wig. Perfect! Steamed my dress and wrapped my sash on...Princess Leia was ready to strut her stuff. Except the line M had me practice all night was but a mere whisper help me Obi Wan Kenobi you are my only hope. And, I sure could have used Obi-Wan Kenobi's help, he was certainly, possibly, the only hope I had.

Next it was off to the car dealer to get my car inspected and oil changed. You should have seen the guys in the service department as Princess Leia exited from her Tantive IV ship disguised as a Toyota Matrix. The service guys started to whip out there cell phones cameras to snap photos; like they had never seen a broad in costume before. They giggled at how difficult it was for me to convey my purpose for being there. I left them with my ship and promised I would send my young padawan learner to pick it up later. Being that he delivered said ship to school to me makes him up for a promotion to a Jedi Master.

Next--to work.

When I entered the office it looked as cute in the morning as it did when I left it last night at 730pm. So I present to you "The Office~2009". Truman Cine' and it's staff.

Come on in Have a snack
See what's playing
Buy a ticket
The big screen
Starring in the movies
Front Row: Carla in Grease, Terri your Wehrenberg employee Middle Row: Patti in The Bee Movie, Kari in Ratatouille, Sherri in Miss Congeniality, Cyndi in The Addams Family, Vicki in The Cat in the Hat Back Row: Keith in Happy Feet, Jodi in Star Wars Episode IV, Lori in The Cat in the Hat

Cyndi and I found our mini Me's Two Princess Leia's

&

Two Wednesday's complete with their favorite toy--a doll with no head.

The day was wet but fun! So much fun they are giving us the day off tomorrow. May October 31, be as much fun as October 29 proved to be!

Student of the Month

If word gets out that included in the Student of the Month prize bag is a coupon for a free school lunch; I think the entire school body of students would start to strive for this high achievement.

In D's case she was bestowed the honor without having to be tempted. I suggested since her posy of friends are all bringers that they have a bought school lunch tasting with her coupon. The girls can sit around nibbling on mushy peas and a soy burger.

When Student of the Month was announced D's class was too noisy for her to hear. It wasn't until her next hour that she learned of her honor...people congratulating her for a reason she had to ask what she did.

It's nice that her sisters, who never have earned such a LHS honor, were all excited for their freshman sister. Even the one far away at school that calls to yell about her clothes she spots in pictures.

Good job baby!

FYI D: the honor does not exclude you from chores or cleaning your room. So hop on it, now!

The D Days of Summer

We have hardly had time to rejoice in summer (I know you are going to tell me summer doesn't come till June 21, but when school is out it is summer)...how can we since we have been celebrating everything D.

Please note when I am done with this blog entry, which may have a somewhat negative tone I am off to pray and find center with myself.

Thursday morning I rose early readied myself for work, as I had to dash there as soon as D's 8th Grade Recognition ceremony was complete. Wait did I say recognition? Now it was a ceremony that started ten minutes late and finished 15 minutes early--so by 830am the powers that be managed to herd across a stage, Team A, 1/3 of a 600 plus student 8th grade class. Recognition. What recognition? There was no other honor bestowed upon these hard-working-school-loving children except for a "you finished middle school" certificate. No President's scholar certificates. No you were in the musical certificates. No you're a mythology or geography bee winner. No perfect attendance award. No you are the kid who did nothing so here's a made up certificate to make you feel part of the class. As proof to the herd them in and out feeling that was felt and expressed by many parents (more of those who have experienced recognition day in the past) see exhibit A: D receiving her manila envelope with the photo of some boy on the screen behind her. He may have been the next in line, but more like two or three behind her. The fashion of the day was the required yellow "class of 2013" T-shirt, shorts and comfortable shoes (in D's case flip-flops).

After a few pictures snapped with friends in the foyer of the auditorium Team A was bussed back to the middle school were they were to have a team gathering of award distributions...so when I tell you D received a team superlative of "Most Likely to be a Teacher" you must believe this because I was told by her and several of her friends. I will only assume the budget cuts the district has recently gone through left no extra paper to print any hard copy proof--for any type of award or recognition. So I'll just take a minute to to tell you about her greatness...she had straight A's all three years of middle school and took all honors courses, she was in the musical all three years having a supporting role this year, was a member of the concert choir all three years and show choir for two years, participated in solo/ensemble two years where her quartet always received a one rating, she received the highest honor in choir (remember her friends call her a "choir champion")...oh gosh that's enough sugar coating.

Then because of the rain the after party was moved from the park to the high school commons area and gym 3. Thankfully I went to work to finish out the school year in a more calm and peaceful manner, because according to D and her best gal pals--and my good friend who tortured herself as a chaperon with her assigned post being guarding a door for three hours-- it was "utter chaos and lame". Parents quickly gathered three Wii systems and a few Guitar Heroes (for 600 kids), ball games of all kinds in one gym. Balls going every which way and any way is the description that was provided me, with a few Frisbees flying through the air as rain out entertainment. Lunch was good I am told and spending last moments with a good longtime friend who is moving to Massachusetts. See exhibit B and C: three neighbors girls, three bus buddies, three walk to St. Louis Bread Co. (Panera to you non-STL people) pals, three slumber at each others houses on a Friday night friends, three girls intertwined with allegiance to there chumminess...two kissing one goodbye with a promise of friendship forever.

I'll fast forward to Sunday, D's confirmation.

Can I start by just saying I am a very traditional person, which carries into my style and choice of worship? I find connection with God through structure, tranquility and peace. So three years ago when our church adopted a contemporary service, I refer to it as rock-n-roll worship, or as the church labels it "Crossover"; I was less than embracing. As the years went on I became less enchanted with many aspects of how these services were and are conducted, no matter how much I tried to embrace change. I rarely attend late service and opt to rise with the rooster on Sunday to attend the traditional 8am service.

When M was confirmed during the contemporary service it was modified in such a way not to comprise the Crossover belief yet had a most tranquil and moving style--the music, the faith statements... I left M's Confirmation touched and my tank filled with the fuel of God that I looked forward to another confirmation experience

That day came today for D. After two years of instruction on the affirmation of the baptismal vows we took for her in her infancy; a personal faith statement written to perfection (because I enforced the rule that a thesaurus is your best friend when writing insisting she use "grown-up" words)... hear the screeching halt of my soul coming to an abrupt stop D's Confirmation was what I call full on Crossover. Rock band of drums and electric guitars beating rhythm in high volume which left little space to warn that a cross-less (because the first year confirmand that was to carry the cross didn't bother to show up) procession of two confirmands and two unrobed ministers had just walked down the isle, followed by an introductory drama lesson to explain Pentecost Sunday, a send out song that left me perplexed...I was pre-warned to be prepared to "feel the spirit move" for this service [as it was Pentecost]. Our family guests were more than freaked and not much movement of spirit was felt. Although D's faith statement was moving in expression and touched my heart that she is someone who has been raised, embraced and has chosen for herself to live a life of Christian beliefs...I left unfilled, empty and wondering if this church is the place that I should call home, the place where I want to worship each week. Sadly I have felt this way for the better part of a year, always hoping and praying that maybe I had just stepped off the path and needed God to kick my butt back on. But after our family meeting tonight we are a family of same feeling and we decided that after attending the youth gathering this July that we would sit down again, talk and decide if the church that once filled our souls with the fuel of God's love, whose people's warm hearts welcome so lovingly; is this the place for us to call home. When the president of the church council presented D with a Lutheran hymnal as a congregation gift he said we are all part of God's "art gallery". I just wonder if the painting that is the Avery Family is hanging in the right gallery? But while we decide we will go into the world walking hand in hand with D who was blessed and bestowed with the "Gift of Joy" as her priceless Confirmation gift from our minister. Maybe, just maybe her light and the joy she has will be our guiding force. Joy filled is exactly how she looks in these photos that mark the memory of this day.
Each day as she heads out into the world to share her "Gift of Joy" she can stop and gaze at her faith project that is proudly placed in our entry foyer, a creation that she and King Ralph fabricated in the garage over saws, nail gun and clamps. A project of interior design beauty that will always remind D as she enters the front door of her confirmation verse, Jeremiah 29:11. Actually when she heads out the door she can remember her confirmation verse; as our gift to her was a silver coin trimmed in gold engraved with her name on the front and Jeremiah 29:11 on the reverse side which hangs around her neck and is accented with a pearl pendant from her godmother. A pearl because in religious terms it stands for salvation, precious wisdom or even our own divine spark within.

(now I bet a whole lot of you are flipping through your Bibles to read Jeremiah 29:11)

Now know this D, we, your whole family are proud of you and know for certain that God most certainly does have a plan for you-- one with hope and future.